Issues: Ethics

After New York’s Legislature passed an ethics package last week, Senator Liz Krueger, a Democrat from Manhattan who voted for the bill, told her colleagues, “We need to not pat ourselves on the back that much because we have further to go.” Actually, they should not congratulate themselves at all. Gov. David Paterson was right to threaten to veto the bill, and if the Legislature sends it to him, he should do just that. Meanwhile, the governor should negotiate something much better:Read full article at: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/24/opinion/24sun2.html

ALBANY — State lawmakers passed an ethics reform bill Wednesday that Gov. David Paterson vowed to veto, saying he wants to work with them on a bill “that I will sign.”

Senate Democrats said they would seek an override of a veto.

“The Senate is prepared to override the governor’s veto and deliver the ethics reform we need to give New York the government it deserves,” said Austin Shafran, spokesman for the Senate Majority Conference.

Given the go-along-to-get-along, ethics-free culture that prevails in the state Legislature, you might have expected that Democrats in the big top known as the New York State Senate would close ranks around an embattled colleague and start mumbling excuses for him . . . or ducking questions about him altogether.

During the debate, Padavan introduced an amendment that would have strengthened the legislation under consideration by the Senate. Padavan’s amendment is identical to his legislation, S.3254, which calls for the establishment of reasonable disclosure requirements for all campaign consultants including those who also engage in lobbying state officials. Under the amendment, campaign consultants must register with the Ethics Commission and list employees, clients and fees for services.

Last week I announced that the Senate and Assembly had introduced a package of ethics legislation that I pushed forward; today I am very pleased to report that both houses -- the Senate and Assembly -- have passed the package by an overwhelming margin. I have fought for increased disclosure, enforcement, and independence in Albany since I took office, and by passing this ethics package today, the Senate and Assembly have taken a significant step towards that goal.

“After serving in the State Senate for twelve months, I’m encouraged by yesterday’s passage of ethics reform. For too long, special interests have been able to unfairly influence State representatives behind closed-doors without the public’s knowledge. As a result, Albany politicians have been unaccountable for their actions because of weak ethics laws. New York citizens deserve better.

New York State Senator Frank Padavan (Queens) announced today that the Senate has passed ethics reform legislation. The legislation calls for the establishment of an ethics commission, reestablishes the lobbying commission, greater disclosure of legislators outside income and enhanced campaign finance laws.

By JEREMY W. PETERSALBANY — With 59 largely unenthusiastic ayes, the State Senate on Wednesday approved a package of bills meant to combat political corruption and require elected officials to disclose more about their outside financial interests.Despite more than three hours of debate and grousing from many senators that they felt the bills were at best a half-step toward meaningful change, only one senator voted no.Read full article at: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/21/nyregion/21ethics.html

After years of corruption and dysfunction in Albany, the New York State Senate took a major step forward in passing ethics reform (S6457/Schneiderman-Squadron) that ends the era of secrecy and significantly raises the bar of disclosure and accountability for elected officials.

An act to amend the public officers law, in relation to prohibiting the use by certain public officers and employees of property, services or other resources of the state for private business or other compensated non-governmental purposes; and to amend the penal law, in relation to defrauding the government.

(Albany, New York)—The New York State Senate passed an ethics reform bill today, finally fulfilling a promise long made to New Yorkers. State Senator Liz Krueger expressed her hope that this would be the first step in the adoption of a series of necessary reforms to address the serious issues of questionable ethics and the influence of money that Albany faces.